7 X-factors who could shape the 2020-21 NBA season

6. Draymond Green

There are two versions of Draymond Green that even predate the lost 2019-20 season. The Draymond of the 2019 playoffs was the spark of the dynasty, the one whose defensive savvy has him headed to the Hall of Fame with a Defensive Player of the Year trophy in hand. The Draymond of that regular season was out of shape and uninterested in the day to day of the regular season.

The presence of the latter was deemed acceptable when any one of four All-Stars could carry the Golden State Warriors on any given night.

Times have changed since those glory days. Four All-Stars is now down to two. The inevitability of a top seed, much less a championship, has all but evaporated out in the Bay Area. Golden State has to go full throttle to secure as favorable a spot as possible in the Western Conference as it can. Doing so can only come via a full effort from its tone-setting leader.

Draymond is 30 years old. He has five Finals runs tacked onto his body. His top gear has to have dissipated somewhat. But with little to play for he also took most of last season off and hasn’t suited up since he played less than 10 minutes against the Lakers on Feb. 27.

In a list filled primarily with players unlikely to ever make an All-Star appearance, it feels strange to include a player who, when fully engaged, ranks among the most valuable players in the NBA today, but that player hasn’t been present during the regular season for quite some time.

Asking for that level might not be the fairest of requests, but it’s the only way to ensure the Warriors’ spot among legitimate postseason threats.